2008 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season

The 2008 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season was the 42nd in the club's history. Coached by Ricky Stuart and captained by Paul Gallen and Greg Bird, they competed in the National Rugby League's 2008 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season 3rd (out of 16) to qualify for the finals. The Sharks then came within one game of the Grand Final but were knocked out by eventual runners-up Melbourne Storm.

2008 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season
NRL Rank3rd
2008 recordWins: 18; draws: 0; losses: 8
Points scoredFor: 487 (82 tries, 78 goals, 3 field goals); against: 422 (74 tries, 62 goals, 2 field goals)
Team information
CoachRicky Stuart
Captain
StadiumToyota Stadium
Avg. attendance12,965
Top scorers
TriesLuke Covell (15)
GoalsLuke Covell (73)
PointsLuke Covell (206)
< 2007 2009 >

Season summary

The Sharks began the season on a positive note, with a victory over 2007 runners-up Manly Sea Eagles in Round 1 followed by a shock 17-16 victory over 2007 grand final winners Melbourne in Round 2. The match against the Storm was marred by an on-field brawl after an illegal tackle by Cronulla's Ben Ross on Melbourne's Cooper Cronk, resulting in both Ross and Melbourne's Brett White being sent off and later being referred to the NRL Judiciary.[1]

The Sharks' season of promise was however marred by the late season suspension of star player Greg Bird, following its round 24, 20-0 win over top four contenders the Sydney Roosters at home. Bird was accused of glassing his then-girlfriend Katie Milligan and was stood down by the club just a fortnight out from the finals. Furthermore, five-eighth Brett Seymour suffered a knee injury during the finals; robbing the Sharks of any valuable halves experience at the wrong end of the season. Bird was later sacked by the Sharks; since then he has been exonerated over the glassing incident and he now plays for the Gold Coast Titans.

The Sharks ended the season joint minor premiers with Manly and Melbourne (third on points differential) and many believed this was the year Cronulla would finally win its maiden premiership. The Sharks won its first final in style, thrashing the Canberra Raiders 36-10 at home with Misi Taulapapa, a Warriors outcast scoring a hat-trick. Due to the Melbourne Storm losing its first final, the Sharks earned the week off along with Manly. It was during this time that Seymour suffered his knee injury, ending his 2008 season. The Sharks' season ended with a disappointing 28-0 defeat at the hands of the Melbourne Storm whose captain Cameron Smith was suspended a week earlier for a grapple tackle on Brisbane's Sam Thaiday.

Ladder

Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Melbourne Storm 2417072584282+30238
2 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (P) 2417072645355+29038
3 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2417072451384+6738
4 Sydney Roosters 2415092511446+6534
5 Brisbane Broncos 2414192560452+10833
6 Canberra Raiders 24130112640527+11330
7 St George Illawarra Dragons 24130112489378+11130
8 New Zealand Warriors 24130112502567-6530
9 Newcastle Knights 24120122516486+3028
10 Wests Tigers 24110132528560-3226
11 Parramatta Eels 24110132501547-4626
12 Penrith Panthers 24101132504611-10725
13 Gold Coast Titans 24100142476586-11024
14 South Sydney Rabbitohs 2480162453666-21320
15 North Queensland Cowboys 2450192474638-16414
16 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2450192433782-34914

Results









17 May 2008 Round 10 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 13 6 Brisbane Broncos Toyota Stadium
17:30 Tries:
Misi Taulapapa
Brett Kearney
Goals:
Luke Covell 2/3
Field Goals:
Brett Kimmorley (1)
Tries:
Tonie Carroll
Goals:
Michael Ennis 1/1
Attendance: 13,431
Referee: Jarred Maxwell



8 June 2008 Round 13 Penrith Panthers 22 24 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Penrith Stadium
14:00 Attendance: 10,543
Referee: Jarred Maxwell



30 June 2008 Round 16 Canberra Raiders 24 36 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Canberra Stadium
19:00 Attendance: 9,136
Referee: Sean Hampstead




2 August 2008 Round 21 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 13 12 St. George Illawarra Dragons Toyota Stadium
17:30 Attendance: 18,256
Referee: Jarred Maxwell




29 August 2008 Round 25 Wests Tigers 6 32 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Leichhardt Oval
19:30 Attendance: 10,766
Referee: Sean Hampstead



References

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